:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/30424359/478980707.0.jpg)
The Arizona Wildcats and UCLA Bruins are prohibitive favorites to make it to the Sweet 16. The Stanford Cardinal are definite favorites to win their first game, but then things get a little bit more difficult after that.
Arizona tips off their NCAA tournament against Weber State. This figures to be a decent but not too difficult challenge for the Wildcats, who are probably already preparing for a much more difficult battle against the winner of Gonzaga vs. Oklahoma State. UCLA also should be favored to take care of Tulsa, then probably will have to deal with the winner of VCU vs. Stephen F. Austin. Both have the advantage of playing in San Diego, where they will be favored to win their opening week brackets. Stanford draws a much tougher bracket. They will battle New Mexico in the first round before having to try and escape the St. Louis region against Kansas.
Friday's Game Schedule
| Region | Game | Venue | Time | TV | Announcers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MidWest | Mercer Bears (14) vs. Duke Blue Devils(3) | PNC Arena (Raleigh, NC) | 12:15p | CBS | Kevin Harlan/Len Elmore/Reggie Miller/Rachel Nichols |
| West | Nebraska Cornhuskers (11) vs. Baylor Bears (6) | AT&T Center (San Antonio, TX) | 12:40p | truTV | Marv Albert/Steve Kerr/Craigh Sager |
| South | Stanford Cardinal (10) vs. New Mexico Lobos (7) | Scottrade Center (St. Louis, MO) | 1:40p | TBS | Jim Nantz/Greg Anthony/Tracy Wolfson |
| West | Weber State Wildcats (16) vs. Arizona Wildcats (1) | Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl (San Diego, CA) | 2:10p | TNT | Andrew Catalon/Mike Gminski/Otis Livingston |
| MidWest | Iowa Hawkeyes/Tennessee Volunteers (11) vs. Massachusetts Minutemen (6) | PNC Arena (Raleigh, NC) | 2:45p | CBS | Kevin Harlan/Len Elmore/Reggie Miller/Rachel Nichols |
| West | Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns (14) vs. Creighton Bluejays (3) | AT&T Center (San Antonio, TX) | 3:10p | truTV | Marv Albert/Steve Kerr/Craigh Sager |
| South | Eastern Kentucky Colonels (15) vs. Kansas Jayhawks (2) | Scottrade Center (St. Louis, MO) | 4:10p | TBS | Jim Nantz/Greg Anthony/Tracy Wolfson |
| West | Oklahoma State Cowboys (9) vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs (8) | Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl (San Diego, CA) | 4:40p | TNT | Andrew Catalon/Mike Gminski/Otis Livingston |
| East | George Washington Colonials (9) vs. Memphis Tigers (8) | PNC Arena (Raleigh, NC) | 6:55p | TBS | Kevin Harlan/Len Elmore/Reggie Miller/Rachel Nichols |
| MidWest | Cal Poly Mustangs/ Texas Southern Tigers (16) vs. Wichita State Shockers (1) | Scottrade Center (St. Louis, MO) | 7:10p | CBS | Jim Nantz/Greg Anthony/Tracy Wolfson |
| East | Providence Friars (11) vs. North Carolina Tar Heels (6) | AT&T Center (San Antonio, TX) | 7:20p | TNT | Marv Albert/Steve Kerr/Craigh Sager |
| South | Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (12) vs. Virginia Commonwealth Rams (5) | Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl (San Diego, CA) | 7:27p | truTV | Andrew Catalon/Mike Gminski/Otis Livingston |
| East | Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (16) vs. Virginia Cavaliers (1) | PNC Arena (Raleigh, NC) | 9:25p | TBS | Kevin Harlan/Len Elmore/Reggie Miller/Rachel Nichols |
| MidWest | Kansas State Wildcats (9) vs. Kentucky Wildcats (8) | Scottrade Center (St. Louis, MO) | 9:40p | CBS | Jim Nantz/Greg Anthony/Tracy Wolfson |
| East | NC Central Eagles (14) vs. Iowa State Cyclones (3) | AT&T Center (San Antonio, TX) | 9:50p | TNT | Marv Albert/Steve Kerr/Craigh Sager |
| South | Tulsa Golden Hurricane (13) vs. UCLA Bruins (4) | Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl (San Diego, CA) | 9:57p | truTV | Andrew Catalon/Mike Gminski/Otis Livingston |